Warren County's public ‘stimulus’ funding advisory meetings

Four public meetings have been scheduled in November and December for discussion of how Warren County’s share of federal COVID-19 stimulus money will be used.

The Warren County Board of Supervisors has established an “American Rescue Plan Act” (ARPA) Advisory Committee of supervisors, county officials and community members that will review options for use of $12.4 million in federal funding Warren County will receive. The advisory committee will in turn make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors.

ARPA funding can be used to respond to the public health emergency caused by the coronavirus as well as address the economic devastation that came with it, including assistance to households, small businesses and nonprofits, and aid to impacted industries such as tourism, travel and hospitality. 

As part of the process, the committee will weigh the hundreds of suggestions made by residents and visitors through surveys conducted earlier this year.

“We are committed to using this money as best we can to benefit all of our Warren County residents, businesses and the visitors who come to our beautiful county,” noted Johnsburg Supervisor Andrea Hogan, Chairwoman of the ARPA Advisory Committee and Chairwoman of the Warren County Board of Supervisors Economic Growth & Development Committee. “We want to make sure the work we do is akin to planting perennials that will grow and have benefits for years to come.”

ARPA Advisory Committee meetings will be held at the Warren County Board of Supervisors room at the Warren County Municipal Center on:

• Tuesday, November 16, starting at 3 p.m.
• Tuesday, November 30, starting at 3 p.m.
• Tuesday, December 7, starting at 3 p.m.
• Tuesday, December 21, starting at 3 p.m.

The public is invited to attend, and the meetings will also be livestreamed on Warren County’s YouTube page at www.youtube.com/c/WarrenCountyNewYork.

“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for our county to tackle some important initiatives, but more importantly, for our public to make their voices heard on what they want and what they desperately need from their local government as we recover together from this pandemic,” said Rachel Seeber, Chairwoman of the Warren County Board of Supervisors. “As your elected officials, we must make sure our public is as involved in this process as they can be. If you have time, please either come watch one of these meetings, participate in these meetings, tune in on our Warren County YouTube channel or watch the videos at your convenience when they are archived on YouTube. We work for you and this is your money – let’s make it work as best as we can to truly impact our community and make a difference in our county”

Also sitting on the ARPA Advisory Committee are Seeber; Michael Bittel, President/CEO, Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce; Beth Gilles; Director, Lake Champlain Lake George Regional Planning Board; Ray Agnew, Glens Falls Hospital Vice President; Warren County Treasurer Michael Swan; Queensbury at-Large Supervisor Doug Beaty; Glens Falls 3^rd Ward Supervisor Claudia Braymer; Queensbury at-Large Supervisor Michael Wild; Warren County Administrator Ryan Moore; Warren County Planning Director Wayne Lamothe; and Warren County Deputy Planner Ethan Gaddy.

For more information on ARPA funding for Warren County, go to https://warrencountyny.gov/ARPA.